Proud Heart, Proud Words, and Judgment

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Proud Heart, Proud Words, and Judgment

By the Watchman Dana G Smith
Words: 4480
Keywords: Jeremiah, Judah, Lord, God of Israel, Wickedness, Proud, Sign

If there were ever a proud nation, that would be America, or so the thought comes. But the truth is, Israel, who knew the True and living God, saw its own pride and downfall as well. In fact since the time of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in Jeremiah’s day, they have faced the fact that their kingdom, temple, and ways were gone. In a moment, destroyed through the judgment the LORD God had sent. It was nevermore to be built again. Nevermore, that is until God brought his people back from all the world were he dispersed them.

As for America, its people, and the church in this nation, well pride goes with the territory of being one of most blessed nations on earth. That is, until the same God who destroyed Israel, Jerusalem, and its temple, sends judgment in its fullness upon this nation. In this we must understand that we are now and have been seeing God slowly withdrawing his blessing and sending his judgments upon this country. But we must also know that we are surely not the most wicked of the nations on earth. No, likewise, Israel and Judah was not as well. The one item both nations have in common is the fact they were both founded by and blessed through the LORD God. It was the LORD who established Israel and it was the LORD who saw that this nation would be created and also who blessed it raising it to the top of all nations.

But the one thing we must not do is follow pride with proud hearts and proud words. There is no doubt today, there are more and more who see things going wrong. Many still don’t understand and will stay that way, in darkness, until the very end. Others will be proud and suffer the judgment for it. While still others will understand, repent, and seek the LORD. This is what I call a remnant. The remnant believers who will turn to the LORD in all their efforts to find him and his hand upon them.

As we ponder these thoughts, let us stroll through Chapter forty four of Jeremiah and find some important points that pertain to us. Points that we can learn from. Points that will save us trouble and heartache in the end.

Thus the Word Came:

After judgment upon Judah, with Babylon destroying the temple, Jerusalem, people, and carrying some captive along with the holy things, there was a remnant in the land of Judah. People who the LORD God had allowed to be there. He could have thoroughly erased Israel and all its people. Then this God could have raised up stones for a people. But in his mercy, he did not! It was during this time that Jews who scattered out of Judah and its surrounding lands for the high hills when the Babylonian armies marched in, began to come back. The King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar had appointed a king in the land, giving him orders and then left.

Through intrigue, this king was killed and the remaining princes with their men sought Jeremiah in an effort to find out if God would bless their leaving Judah. You can read all this in chapters 42 through 44 of Jeremiah. To make a long story short, the LORD told them to remain in Judah or they would face famine, sword, and death in Egypt. This group ignored the Words of God and took all the people and Jeremiah to Egypt. We take up the story there as Jeremiah is speaking to this stubborn group of Jews who would not listen.

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah. As with all the words the LORD gave to Jeremiah concerning his people, they would not listen. There is no doubt even today in our nation, God continue’s to give a word to his people, but they along with the example of these Jews, persistently do not listen.

Thus another Word for these Jews came, A very important Word!

Jeremiah 44:1
¶The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,

Judgment on Judah

You would think by now the Jews in both Israel and Judah would understand that when Jeremiah spoke a Word of the LORD, it came true. None believed Jerusalem, its temple, and many people would be destroyed. None believed God would dare judge his own chosen people, those called by his name. None believed this LORD would have all his holy things carried captive to Babylon by Goyim, unclean gentiles. But this God did.

Yet for all this Jeremiah brings a word to remind these people that the LORD [covenant and personal name of God] of Hosts [the highest authority over all agencies there is] and the God of Israel [their own personal God who was called by their name, Israel] had brought evil upon them, destroying Judah and making it desolate!

This people had their own name ‘Israel’ attached to the God who loved them so. By their own pursuits and lusts they sought after other Gods who were not Gods. In doing so they defiled the name of God. They thus provoked God to anger for their persistent wickedness and harlotry by going after other Gods who were not Gods. They did these things which even their forefathers, nor they had ever heard of. Yet they did eventually hear and do wickedly with other Gods. The stage being set for the judgment they had received.

Jeremiah 44:2
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,

Jeremiah 44:3
Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers.

I Rose Early and Sent Prophets

Jeremiah reminds them that before this destruction of their beloved Jerusalem, temple, lifestyle, and people, God had arose early. He did so [for we know God doesn't ever sleep so how can he rise early] by sending in his voice on earth to Israel, through his servants, the prophets. He sent them with his word to tell them not to do this abomination and to repent.

As with many people, they did not listen, choosing instead to ignore the warnings and still went ahead pursuing their own thing, so to speak. The continued in their wicked ways and harlotry. As a result, God sent his destruction, but not before many, many years of prophets who warned his people of judgment to come if they did not repent.

Moreover, God still judges nations and peoples. God still expects his people to not do wickedly! If God judged both Judah and Israel [the northern kingdom] for their wickedness he will judge us and other nations. If God destroyed his own temple, sent his holy things for use in the service of the temple captive to Babylon along with his people, he will also destroy the harlot church, send his people into a smelter, and let all people know he is God, the LORD; who is governor of the nations and ruler of his people who call him LORD! He will also destroy all other idols, Gods, and powers who oppose him and his righteous ways!

Jeremiah 44:4
Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.

Jeremiah 44:5
But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.

Jeremiah 44:6
Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.

Proud in Spite of the Judgment I Sent

But unbelievable as it sounds, in spite of the judgment, the remnant who were left in the Land still were not humbled, nor did they fear God. They were certainly afraid of the judgments God sent, that is why they wanted to go to Egypt where none of these things occurred. This thought in their minds was comforting for some reason because in their delusion they thought this God could not or would not come after them in Egypt. But they forgot one thing, they were a covenant people. Ones who had a history of knowing this God. Their forefathers had known this God, seen his hand at work. Now they were in Egypt defying what Jeremiah had told them, which was straight from God, “Do not go down into Egypt”.

Jeremiah 44:10
They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.

The Proud Heart “We will not Listen”

Not only were this a proud rebellious lot, but now they stood defiant before Jeremiah. This is a problem for all flesh. If you love death, then go ahead and hate this God. For surely death will come if you in pride and foolishness hate the LORD God. This group of remnant Jews stood with all their wives, and a great multitude before Jeremiah and stubbornly told him, in our lingo, “go get lost Jeremiah.”

Jeremiah 44:15
¶Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,

Stand in the Old Paths & Walk Therein!

Jeremiah had told them earlier to ‘stand in the good way, and walk in it.’ This would be where they would find rest and peace in their souls. But walking in the LORD God’s commands and not going after other Gods was not in their logic. They ignored the watchmen God had sent, ignored his stern warnings to walk in the ways or commandments of the LORD. These watchmen ‘sounded the trumpet’ as a warning blast to Gods people. They were saying “awaken you who sleep, awaken you who do not walk in the true ways of the LORD, repent and seek him so that this judgment does not find you”! Yet in all this, God’s own people ignored it! They were fine, rich, and in need of nothing!

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

Condemned by Their Own Words

Be careful what you say before God. I can tell you without reservation or equivocation, that God will hold you to what you speak. Even if you speak foolishly! This group of remnant Jews, who saw the words Jeremiah spoke come to pass, still did not fear the LORD. They spoke directly to the Prophet and Watchman of God saying “we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth.” That is astonishing to me that after all this they were so hardened and foolish that they would challenge God and his prophet, a proven one as well. There was no guess work in this, Jeremiah had proven he was a Prophet to all of Judah. In addition they said, we will “burn incense unto the queen of heaven, pour out drink offerings to her, just as we all have been doing all along.”

A careful study of this will also reveal they saw that when they did this, i.e. serve other Gods that no evil came upon them. Of course this is a lie. For God had been sending judgments all along. It was the grace of God that forebear upon them. He had been warning them through his prophets. This people took this forbearance and grace of God as the work of their foolishness and idol God they were serving. They thought any blessing, peace, and comfort came from this God, the queen of Heaven.

Jeremiah 44:17
But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

The queen of heaven they were serving was the Babylonian goddess, Ishtar. Which is where our own ‘statue of liberty’ replica came from. They made her cakes, and gave her drink offerings. All of which brought the abomination to the level of unbelievable, since they had flour and grain offerings to the real God, along with drink or wine offerings. This worship involved the whole family. The problem here is this people did wickedly and only left off from following their harlotry after it was too late and God had begun to send judgment. When this judgment came, they did not want to see it as judgment for their harlotry, but saw it as failing to serve this Goddess Ishtar. Much of the world today is still involved in worshipping demons in this fashion. Yes, these people do so see demonic influence, supernatural occurrences, and more to convince them that what they do is true and certain. But in fact it is a lie and a delusion.

Jeremiah 44:18
But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.

Jeremiah 44:19
And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

The LORD God Acknowledges and Sends Judgment for their own Words!

The LORD God then accepts and says that the words they have spoken out of their own mouths will in fact be fulfilled by their own hands. For when they do the things they have said they would do, then judgment would be upon their own heads, through their own hands.

Here scripture doesn’t say why all the crowd went together against the LORD. But they did. Maybe many followed the crowd and what the majority felt. In other words peer pressure. It is hard to say, but no doubt if they or some of them had just said to the LORD, “we repent” and followed the words with heartfelt action like going back to Judah, then God would have heard and forgiven them. But they did not!

In fact the LORD God said to Judah, i.e. all that dwell in the land of Egypt, saying “I will watch over them for evil and not for good.” Further God says that “all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword, by famine, until there be an end to them.”

Jeremiah 44:24
Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:

Jeremiah 44:25
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.

Jeremiah 44:26
Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.

Jeremiah 44:27
Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.

The LORD Establishes a Sign of Whose Word will Stand!

It is here that the LORD says some will escape the sword that comes upon Egypt. This sword comes by Babylon again. Those who escape will be a witness, again of the fact that the Word of the LORD comes true. That the stubbornness and pride of the people met the Words of the LORD through his Prophet. Thus this remnant will know that the Words of the LORD stood and not the words of foolish and prideful men who refuse to repent and lead their families after the ways of the True and Living God, the God of Israel.

Jeremiah 44:28
Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.

Jeremiah 44:29
And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:

The Counsel of the LORD Stands Forever!

Even today we have the same kind of men, women, and nations of peoples. All who foolishly make claims, speak unwise, and pursue things that will bring death upon them. Today the whole world will someday meet with the ‘son of perdition’ mentioned in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. This will be a wicked one who will lead multitudes in delusion against the LORD. He will speak against the God of heaven and seem to get away with it, that is until the LORD returns and puts an end to it.

Today we find that in America there are as well many who continue to foolishly and with pride speak out. They are going to do this or that! They will do as they feel! No one is going to tell them what to do! They will believe in this God or that one. They will believe in a force and not any True God. Then there are those, who as fools, say in their heart, ‘there is no God.’

We have many churches, denominations, and Christians who think all this warning is allot of bunk. It is trash, it is old fashioned! It will never happen say they! God is love, he won’t do this to the church and America. Well, all I can say is this, wait and see whose words come to pass, the Word of the LORD or your own! Be careful, The “Counsel of the LORD” stands forever!

Psalms 33:10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

I close with this my friends, here are some scripture portions. The Word of God say’s the ‘Eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him’. Do you hope in this God, even our Father through Jesus Christ [Y'SHUA Ha Massiach]? Do hope in his mercy? Do you seek him, cry to him, and face troubles today? If so, the ‘Eye of the LORD’ is upon you! His ‘angels encamp around you who fear him and this God will deliver you.’ It is here that you who trust in HIM, truly so, in faith, in action, and with a whole heart need to believe and receive this fact, there are many afflictions of the righteous, but this God will deliver you. All those who trust in Him will not be left desolate, for he will always be there. Yes there will be trouble, a smelter, persecution, and trials, but this God will never leave you nor forsake you. In fact, you may meet death for your faith, for the servant is not above his master. We are called to follow at all costs. The question is, what are you going to do? These scriptures are mighty ‘weapons to use in prayer’ and in your daily life. There are many such scriptures, but these are just a few.

At the end of this is a prayer psalm. It is what I call a Prayer warriors Psalm. If you are facing troubles, you can make this Psalm a prayer, tailor it to your needs and pray it out loud! God is faithful, he cannot lie, will not forsake you, and no one who hopes in him will be desolate. He will bring you unto himself.

The Eye of the LORD is upon them that Fear Him, those that Hope in His Mercy!

Psalms 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

The LORD Who hears, delivers, and Saves!

Psalms 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psalms 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

The LORD Redeems His Servants who Trust in Him!

18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

The Warring Prayer for the Saint who is facing troubles!

This is a great Biblical prayer for those facing troubles, use this as a base for you praying against those enemies, either flesh or spirit who assail you. Some parts may not fit your situation, use the parts which do, make it your own prayer, and use it in your defense against the enemy.

Psalms 35:1
¶<<A Psalm of David.>> Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Psalms 35:2
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

Psalms 35:3
Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Psalms 35:4
Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

Psalms 35:5
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

Psalms 35:6
Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

Psalms 35:7
For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

Psalms 35:8
Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

Psalms 35:9
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

Psalms 35:10
All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

Psalms 35:11
¶False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

Psalms 35:12
They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

Psalms 35:13
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

Psalms 35:14
I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

Psalms 35:15
But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

Psalms 35:16
With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

Psalms 35:17
¶Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

Psalms 35:18
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

Psalms 35:19
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

Psalms 35:20
For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

Psalms 35:21
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

Psalms 35:22
This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

Psalms 35:23
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

Psalms 35:24
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

Psalms 35:25
Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

Psalms 35:26
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

Psalms 35:27
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Psalms 35:28
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

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Tags: America, Christians, church, Gods, grace, Israel, Jews, judgment, Lord God, watchman, Yshua